ImprovIng pIg HEALTH From BIrTH

Research stars shine on world stage

Linking with the Riverland

News from the University of Adelaide www.adelaide.edu.au l Winter 2014 l FREE publication

Adelaidean

Established in 1991, Adelaidean is the University of Adelaide’s free magazine.Circulation:10,000 Cover photo: Dr Will van Wettere, Lecturer in Intensive Livestock (Pigs).Subscription Enquiries: For free print and online subscriptions Phone: +61 8 8313 0814 Email: adelaidean@adelaide.edu.auMailing address: Adelaidean, Marketing & Communications, University of Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.

CRICOS 00123M 1330.4 Winter 2014

>ADELAIDEAN

>CONTENTS03 Working towards

reconciliation

04-05 New insights into a common heart condition

06-07 Ultra-cold facility delivers security for researchers

08-11 Research stars shine on world stage

12-13 Improving pig health from birth

14-15 Major wins in New Colombo Plan

16-17 Barley program boosts farmer profitability

18-19 Linking with the Riverland

20-21 Unicare succeeds on many levels

22-23 Empowering learning the MOOC way

Research stars at the

University of Adelaide are

shining on the global stage.

University academics

have been listed among

the world’s most highly

cited researchers in the

latest ranking issued by

Thomson Reuters.

In this edition we also take

a look at the work of two

agricultural researchers

who are helping to increase

the productivity

of Australia’s pig and barley

farmers.

The University is a

major winner under the

Federal Government’s

New Colombo Plan with

dozens of our students

winning prized exchanges

overseas. We are also

expanding our work in

regional South Australia to

support local communities.

These stories and more

can be found online

at adelaide.edu.au/

adelaidean.

INSIDE ThIS EDITION OF ADELAIDEAN

06-07 08-11

12-13 20-21

2 ADELAIDEAN

ADELAIDEAN 3

WORkINg TOWARDS RECONCILIATION

“Our mandate to foster and protect a campus environment of equity, diversity and social justice has never changed.”

IndIgEnouS EduCatIon

The University of Adelaide has reaffirmed its

commitment to Australia’s Indigenous people with

an updated reconciliation statement, which supports

key targets for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

participation.

The revised statement aims to build on the original 2003

document by taking into account future directions of the

University under the Beacon of Enlightenment strategic

plan.

Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Warren

Bebbington says the University’s aspirations for Indigenous

enrolments, employment and cultural awareness are more

compelling now than they have ever been.

“Our mandate to foster and protect a campus environment

of equity, diversity and social justice has never changed,” he

says. “In the University of Adelaide’s 140th anniversary year

this was clearly the right time to revisit our reconciliation

statement and to reaffirm our position for a new generation.”

The reconciliation statement endorses the University-wide

approach in Tarrkarri Tirrka, the Integrated Aboriginal and

Torres Strait Islander Education Strategy, which targets

Indigenous workforce and student participation rates of 2%

over the next 10 years.

The University’s Dean of Indigenous Education, Professor

Lester-Irabinna Rigney, describes the statement as the

University’s “birth certificate document” in working towards

reconciliation in collaboration with Elders.

“It acknowledges the hardships suffered by Australian

Indigenous people since European colonisation and that

the Kaurna people are the original custodians of the land

on which the University’s campuses are built,” he says.

“It is essentially a roadmap for the next 10 years of

engagement with Indigenous communities, providing

specific targets for participation rates of Aboriginal and

Torres Strait Islander students and staff, and an affirmation

of Indigenous culture right across the University.”

4 ADELAIDEAN

ProfIlE: ProfESSor PraSh SandErS

NEW INSIghTS INTO A COmmON hEART CONDITION

4 ADELAIDEAN

Prash Sanders came to a surprise conclusion as a medical

registrar when he observed cardiac specialists treating

people suffering from irregular heartbeats.

They were all using a different approach.

“It was pretty obvious at the time that no-one knew exactly

how to manage the condition,” says Professor Sanders.

And they weren’t alone. Atrial fibrillation was a common

illness which had cardiac experts worldwide struggling to

fully understand and to standardise management.

The young Prash Sanders made it his goal to find out more.

After graduating with honours from the University of

Adelaide in 1994, he undertook physician and cardiology

training at the Royal Adelaide Hospital before doing

clinical training and a PhD in cardiac electrophysiology in

Melbourne.

These were all steps in a carefully planned journey that

would take him to Bordeaux in France where Professor

Michel Haïssaguerre was pioneering a new treatment

called catheter ablation.

Professor Sanders won a prestigious Neil Hamilton Fairly

Fellowship to work with Professor Haïssaguerre and for the

next four years learned all he could about complex ablation

techniques involving cauterising areas of heart muscle to

interrupt abnormal electrical impulses and, in many cases,

cure rhythm disturbances.

He brought his new-found expertise back to Adelaide in

2005 when he established a dedicated electrophysiology

laboratory to pursue further groundbreaking research. He’s

come a long way since.

Today he is Director of the University’s Centre for Heart

Rhythm Disorders and heads an 80-strong team based at

the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute,

University of Adelaide and the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

Their work is helping to save numerous lives. An estimated

2% of people suffer from atrial fibrillation which has been

identified as a leading cause of strokes and hospitalisation.

“I’ve been fortunate to have been involved in exploring and

designing some of the techniques to cure people of atrial

fibrillation and we’re now introducing these techniques in

Australia,” says Professor Sanders.

“Important to the success of my group, which extends

from basic science concepts through to the clinic, is the

support and integration of services between the University

and hospital environments.

“We have been fortunate to have attracted high-quality

students back to the University, which has been fantastic.”

Among the key initiatives is a major collaborative trial

involving cardiac electrophysiologists across Australia and

New Zealand to evaluate treatment options.

The study, which is being led by Professor Sanders, is

looking at new ways of using a cardiac resynchronisation

device to improve heart pumping.

“This is the first trial of its type and by joining forces in this

way we have a much greater chance of having a high

clinical impact,” he says.

But while better treatment options are important, Professor

Sanders is particularly focused on addressing the various

risk factors that cause the condition – factors which until

recent years were not considered connected.

They include hypertension, diabetes, smoking, alcohol

abuse, high cholesterol, obesity and sleep apnoea.

PIONEERING RESEARCH By UNIVERSITy OF ADELAIDE PROFESSOR PRASH SANDERS IS PROVIDING VITAL INSIGHTS INTO ATRIAL FIBRILLATION, A POTENTIALLy FATAL AND PREVIOUSLy LITTLE UNDERSTOOD CONDITION.

ADELAIDEAN 5

THIS PAGE Professor Prash Sanders

“I’ve been fortunate to have been involved in exploring and designing some of the techniques to cure people of atrial fibrillation.”

6 ADELAIDEAN

rESEarCh InnovatIon

6 ADELAIDEAN

ADELAIDEAN 7

ULTRA-COLD FACILITy DELIvERS SECURITy FOR RESEARChERS

A new secure, ultra-cold storage system is being rolled out

at the University of Adelaide to protect valuable research

and archival materials.

Freezer failure is one of the most common adverse events

at universities and can ruin irreplaceable samples, disrupt

vital research and place grant funding at risk.

The University of Adelaide has taken a lead in Australia with

a three-step Biobank project, which includes a laboratory

information management system, secure freezer storage

and extensive guidelines.

“Once successfully implemented, the benefits of the

University’s approach to freezer management will be

significant,” says Professor Mike Brooks, Deputy Vice-

Chancellor (Research).

“In addition to constructing a new, purpose-built, secure

facility, we are providing researchers with additional tools

to achieve best practice management of their research

materials.”

Biobank follows a 2011 audit which revealed the University

had at least 110 minus 80°C freezers, and not all of them

were being adequately maintained or monitored, leaving

the University with a significant risk.

A major increase in research activity over the past five years

also means demand for freezer space has soared.

Biobank includes a total of 36 new freezers which will be

centrally located on the North Terrace and Waite campuses

in purpose-built facilities that are secure and monitored.

They each have complete power back-up, with alarms

providing alerts in the event of failure. All freezers and

contents are recorded and monitored by the FreezerPro

management system, which has a full reporting capability.

To improve security and ensure insurance standards are

met, University of Adelaide schools will be given guidelines

to improve the management of their local laboratory

freezers.

Among the major users is the School of Paediatrics and

Reproductive Health. School Head Professor Julie Owens

says that knowing their work is secure and protected will

provide researchers great peace of mind.

“As far as we know, no other university in Australia has

such a comprehensive and institution-wide ultra-cold

storage system which covers all three key areas to protect

and manage our vital research materials,” she says.

More information can be found at:

www.adelaide.edu.au/biobank

LEFT Professor Julie Owens in the Biobank

“In addition to a new, purpose-built, secure facility, we are providing researchers with additional tools to achieve best practice management of their research materials.”

FREEZER FAILURE CAN SPELL DISASTER FOR A RESEARCH PROJECT. NOW LABORATORy MATERIALS AT THE UNIVERSITy OF ADELAIDE ARE BEING PROTECTED By ONE OF THE MOST ADVANCED FREEZER MANAGEMENT INITIATIVES.

ADELAIDEAN 7

8 ADELAIDEAN

hIghly CItEd rESEarChErS

The Thomson Reuters ranking covers an 11-year period

from 2002-2012, listing researchers who have made an

“exceptional impact” in their specialty field.

Titled The World’s Most Influential Scientific Minds, the

report was compiled by identifying a small set of researchers

– only 3215 worldwide – who wrote the greatest number of

highly cited papers in their field.

Professor Mike Brooks, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research),

says having researchers in this elite group is a fantastic

result for the University.

“There were 78 high-citation researchers Australia-wide, so

having four associated with the University of Adelaide – and

the only ones in South Australia – is quite an achievement,”

he says.

RESEARCh STARS ShINE ON WORLD STAgE

THE UNIVERSITy OF ADELAIDE HAS DEMONSTRATED ITS RESEARCH CREDENTIALS WITH FOUR ACADEMICS LISTED AMONG THE WORLD’S MOST HIGHLy CITED RESEARCHERS.

“It’s the pinnacle of academic success to publish papers

that are highly cited. Being extensively referenced by other

scientists means you’re making an outstanding contribution

which is influencing world research.”

Attracting highly cited researchers to Adelaide is a key aim

of the University’s Beacon of Enlightenment strategic plan.

“We aim to attract many more research stars in the coming

years and be at the very top level of citation performance.

I think we’ve already demonstrated we’re capable of

achieving that goal,” says Professor Brooks.

› Professor alison Kitson, dean, School of nursing

› Professor Peng Shi, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering

› Professor John lynch, School of Population health

› Professor timothy hughes, School of Medicine and SahMrI

hIghLy CITED RESEARChERS

ADELAIDEAN 9

INSIGHTS INTO IMPROVING PATIENT CAREFinding ways to introduce new evidence and innovations

into large and often entrenched health systems has been

the underpinning theme of Alison Kitson’s research for more

than 20 years.

She has been focusing on an approach called knowledge

translation, or KT, to achieve her lifelong goal of improving

patient care.

Professor Kitson’s insights have been highly influential

worldwide in helping health systems understand how they

can better embrace new initiatives and practices. Her work

has also shaped many research teams in studying the impact

of KT initiatives.

She says it’s a great honour to be in the highly cited list of

international researchers.

“It reassures you that all the hard work is counting for something

on the ground,” she says.

Research has been a major focus throughout her career,

including senior positions at Green Templeton College at the

University of Oxford and the Royal College of Nursing in the UK.

Professor Kitson has brought that passion to the University of

Adelaide’s School of Nursing in her position as Dean, and its

international reputation has grown accordingly.

A key aim since joining the School in 2009 has been to establish

a global research network focused around the importance of

patient-centred care.

PROFESSOR ALISON kITSON

REALISING yOUR DREAMS Peng Shi is a distinguished international researcher who

believes in following his dreams.

It’s a journey which has taken him around the world before

joining the University of Adelaide’s School of Electrical

and Electronic Engineering two years ago to continue

his breakthrough research in intelligent systems and

automation and control.

Professor Shi graduated from one of China’s leading

technology and engineering universities, Harbin,

in 1982 and over the years has progressively added to

his impressive academic record at universities in the UK

and Australia.

He also spent six years applying his skills at Australia’s

principal defence research establishment, the Defence

Science and Technology Organisation, from 1999.

PROFESSOR PENg ShI

Professor Shi says he was attracted to the University of

Adelaide because of its reputation as one of Australia’s top

Group of Eight research universities.

“It’s allowed me to keep following my dreams and

continue research into areas that have real-world

practical applications, whether it is in defence, industry or

manufacturing,” he says.

He is delighted on two levels at being nominated as one of

the world’s most highly cited researchers.

“It’s really pleasing to have your work recognised by your

peers and colleagues, and to know that you are playing

a leading role in an area in which you are so passionate

about,” he says.

10 ADELAIDEAN

hIghly CItEd rESEarChErS

COMMUNICATION KEy TO HIGH CITATIONS Epidemiologist and public health expert John Lynch

believes researchers should focus on three key areas to

succeed in having their work regularly cited.

They need a strong sense of society’s big questions, good

data to address those questions and, finally, they must be

able to communicate.

“Good writing is an undervalued skill across science,

to be honest, and I cannot emphasise that enough – it’s

important to communicate clearly,” he says.

During a distinguished research career, the Professor of

Public Health at the University of Adelaide has been cited

more than 11,000 times.

PROFESSOR JOhN LyNCh

He is an internationally recognised scholar who spent 20

years in North America and also worked in Europe before

returning to Australia six years ago.

In 2007 his work in public health was recognised with an

honorary Doctorate in Medical Science from the University

of Copenhagen, and in 2009 he was awarded a prestigious

National Health and Medical Research Council Fellowship.

The main focus of Professor Lynch’s work over the past

four years has been an early childhood project to make

better use of the masses of government data on child

health and development.

The whole-of-population study captures more than

240,000 children up to the age of 13 who have been born

in South Australia since 1999.

ADELAIDEAN 11

LEUKAEMIA BREAKTHROUGH GRABS WORLD ATTENTIONTimothy Hughes credits good fortune and great teamwork

for being ranked among the world’s most highly cited

researchers.

It’s a typically modest response from someone whose work

has helped revolutionise the treatment of chronic myeloid

leukaemia (CML).

The Head of Translational Leukaemia Research at South

Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI)

and the University of Adelaide has led a team which has

been at the forefront of research into leukaemia using drugs

called kinase inhibitors.

PROFESSOR TImOThy hUghES

ADELAIDEAN 11

The approach has saved countless lives. Before 2002 only

50% of patients survived beyond five years, now 90% can

expect to live at least that long.

“We’ve been very fortunate to be at the centre of this

paradigm shift in the way we treat leukaemia, with a move

away from harsh and untargeted chemotherapy to this

very targeted small molecule approach,” says Professor

Hughes.

Professor Hughes, who is also Head of the Department of

Haematology at SA Pathology, Royal Adelaide Hospital,

was recruited to the University of Adelaide in 1993 to head

up the University’s leukaemia research group after spending

five years in London and Los Angeles.

12 ADELAIDEAN

vEtErInary SCIEnCE

ImPROvINg PIg hEALTh FROm bIRTh

Will van Wettere threw on a backpack and headed for

New Zealand to milk cows and play rugby after graduating

with honours in agricultural science from the University of

Edinburgh.

It was a working holiday which was meant to lead into a

research career in the dairy industry. Fourteen years later

and he’s one of Australia’s leading pig reproduction experts

with an international reputation.

“Someone persuaded me that pigs are small pink dairy

cows,” says Dr van Wettere. “Well, maybe not, but they do

have a lot of similar issues when it comes to nutrition and

reproduction.”

A lack of opportunities in dairy research proved a bonus for

the pork sector as the young researcher pursued ways to

maximise the reproductive potential of pigs.

His travels brought him to Adelaide where he worked for

South Australian Research and Development Institute

(SARDI) and he completed a PhD at the University of

Adelaide on the reproductive physiology of sows.

Since 2009 Dr van Wettere has been a lecturer at the

School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at the University

of Adelaide’s Roseworthy campus where he’s heading

numerous research projects to improve pig fertility and the

life expectancy of piglets.

ROSEWORTHy CAMPUS HAS EARNED A REPUTATION AS THE LEADING RESEARCH CENTRE FOR PIG REPRODUCTION IN AUSTRALIA IN A PROGRAM WHICH INVOLVES CLOSE COLLABORATION WITH INDUSTRy.

ADELAIDEAN 13

Roseworthy is now considered the leading research centre

for pig reproduction in Australia.

“Our research is aligned with the priorities of the Co-

operative Research Centre for High Integrity Australian

Pork and Australian Pork Limited, and we work closely with

SARDI and commercial piggeries in South Australia and

interstate,” he says.

Nutrition and dietary strategies have been a major focus

of the research and have resulted in several landmark

discoveries.

They include the addition of betaine to the sows’ diet to

improve reproductive performance in summer when the

animals struggle because of the heat. The supplement has

been shown to increase the litter size by one to two piglets

and is now used in most piggeries in Australia.

Improving the survival rate of new-born piglets is another

priority. Birth hypoxia – a lack of oxygen during the birth

process – seems to be a risk factor for piglet survival.

Again, diet is proving to be the key.

“Traditionally the approach has been to treat the individual

piglet, but we’re looking at dietary strategies in the

pregnant sow to reduce the problem in the piglet,” says

Dr van Wettere.

“We’re focusing on two types of dietary ingredients –

compounds such as creatine monohydrate and melatonin

to help the piglet cope with birth hypoxia, and caffeine to

increase their vigour to support more rapid milk ingestion.”

Interestingly, the team is making use of research findings on

humans to help inform its approach. Normally it’s the other

way around.

“Our research is aligned with the priorities of the Pork CRC and Australian Pork Limited, and we work closely with SARDI and commercial piggeries in South Australia and interstate.”

ABOVE Dr Will van Wettere

14 ADELAIDEAN

z

lEarnIng and tEaChIng

The University of Adelaide’s strong international focus

has helped it secure significant involvement in the Federal

Government’s signature New Colombo Plan.

During the start-up pilot phase, the University attracted

$287,000 for exchange programs in the Indo-Pacific.

The $100 million flagship program officially began in 2014

and is designed to forge closer ties with the region through

greater study exchanges and internships.

Professor Kent Anderson, Pro Vice-Chancellor

(International), says the early success is a fantastic result

for the University and great news for students.

“Building international connections is an important part of

the University’s Beacon of Enlightenment strategy so we

are very keen to have a major role in the New Colombo

Plan,” says Professor Anderson.

“In recent years we’ve achieved a four-fold increase in the

number of our students studying overseas and this latest

funding will help us improve on that.

“By 2023 we are aiming for 30% of our students to have

an international experience during their degree. It adds

a breadth of skill and knowledge and a sense of global

citizenship that can only be achieved through first-hand

experience of other cultures.”

Professor Anderson is a member of the New Colombo Plan

steering committee, a position he shares with two high-

profile University of Adelaide alumni – Minister for Foreign

Affairs Julie Bishop, Chairperson of the committee, and

Minister for Education Christopher Pyne.

As part of the pilot, the University of Adelaide won funding

to work with several Japanese universities through study

tours, internships, language and cultural programs, and

other short courses.

mAJOR WINS IN NEW COLOmbO PLAN

14 ADELAIDEAN

ADELAIDEAN 15

“Building international connections is an important part of the University’s Beacon of Enlightenment strategy so we are very keen to have a major role in the New Colombo Plan.”

ABOVE New Colombo Plan Fellow, Sarah Mitchell.

Photography credit: Calum Robertson /Newspix

Sarah Mitchell is heading off to Hong Kong to study

next year after winning a prestigious scholarship as

a New Colombo Plan Fellow.

Only four fellowships were selected by the Federal

Government from the 40 New Colombo Plan

Scholars chosen for its scholarship program. The

scholarships are worth up to $67,000 each and the

fellowships are reserved for the top student in each

overseas country.

Sarah, a 20-year-old Bachelor of Arts student from

Mt Compass on the Fleurieu Peninsula, has been

placed at the Chinese University of Hong Kong

where she will study linguistics and history, and

undertake an internship.

“Eventually I want to work in speech pathology or a

related discipline, so this is a fantastic opportunity to

pursue further linguistics study in various specialist

areas,” says Sarah.

FELLOWShIP WINNER

Animal science students are also spending time at the

Bogor Agricultural University in Indonesia on study activities

relating to live cattle exports. The exchange has important

commercialisation interest with involvement of both Elders

and Meat and Livestock Australia.

A group of Indonesian students also visited the University

of Adelaide as part of the initiative, while funding has been

provided for an exchange involving architectural students.

In another exciting development, three University of

Adelaide students have been chosen among a group of 40

in the flagship scholarship program to live, study and gain

work experience in either Japan, Indonesia, Singapore or

Hong Kong.

They include Bachelor of Arts student Sarah Mitchell who

was chosen as one of four Fellows, and two engineering

students, Huw Grano and Jacob Shearer.

16 ADELAIDEAN

agrICultural rESEarCh

16 ADELAIDEAN

“In terms of productivity growth, this is a very direct and tangible contribution of science to the farming community and industry improvement.”

PHOTO Professor Jason Eglinton

ADELAIDEAN 17

bARLEy PROgRAm bOOSTS FARmER PROFITAbILITy

Developing a new variety of barley takes smart science,

high-level expertise – and lots of patience.

Researchers at the University of Adelaide’s barley

breeding program have demonstrated they have an

abundance of all three, and growers across Australia are

very grateful.

Every year the team at the Waite campus produces new

varieties which have special characteristics or are more

disease and salt tolerant.

And every year over the past decade the program

has managed to deliver farmers productivity gains of

between 2-3%.

An impressive performance which barley program leader

Jason Eglinton says is about to get even better.

Growers around the country have recently been testing

the University’s latest inspiration – a malting barley

named Compass which is consistently showing a 10%

increase in product yield.

“This is one of the most eagerly anticipated product

releases from a farmer’s perspective in many years,”

says Associate Professor Eglinton. “It means they’ll be

able to run their barley program for the same costs, with

the same management and the same agronomy – and

get a 10% improvement in returns.

“In terms of productivity growth, this is a very direct

and tangible contribution of science to the farming

community and industry improvement.”

Developing a new variety is very much a collaborative

effort involving a multidisciplinary team of molecular

biologists and biochemists using the latest science.

Researchers also work closely with industry, with each

potential new variety field tested at 34 different on-farm

locations spread across Australia to validate the genetic

improvement in real conditions.

But to reach this stage takes a huge effort. According to

Associate Professor Eglinton the process is like trying to

find a needle in a haystack.

“We generate about 25,000 potential new varieties every

year and test and evaluate every one of them,” he says.

“But on average we only release about one new variety

every 12 months, and a typical product development time

is 10-12 years.”

Last year the University announced a five-year, $10 million

investment to expand sections of the program. Royalties

earned from new varieties are invested back into research

to drive future growth.

The breeding group boasts some of the world’s major

brewing companies among its customers and they are all

in it for the long haul.

Recently the team released a new variety called Charger

which it developed over 10 years in partnership with

Carlsberg and Heineken.

Charger increases the shelf life of beer by 50% by slowing

down an ageing process which results in a stale, papery

flavour. This was achieved by switching off a troublesome

enzyme called lipoxygenase.

Japanese beer giant Sapporo has also partnered with

the researchers to develop Southern Star, a variety which

improves foam retention. Production starts later this

year and the variety will be used exclusively for Sapporo

premium brands.

Today more than 50% of the barley grown in Australia

originated from the Waite laboratories.

“We have six or seven other organisations competing in the

same space, so it’s a track record which we’re quite proud

of,” says Associate Professor Eglinton.

RESEARCHERS AT THE WAITE CAMPUS HAVE DEVELOPED A NEW BARLEy VARIETy WHICH WILL INCREASE FARM PRODUCTION By 10%. IT’S THE LATEST IN A STRING OF SUCCESSES OVER THE PAST 40 yEARS.

ADELAIDEAN 17

18 ADELAIDEAN

LINkINg WITh ThE RIvERLANDThe University of Adelaide’s Faculty of the Professions is

forging new partnerships in regional South Australia to

support local communities while offering unique learning

and research opportunities for students.

The Riverland is the latest region to benefit from the

initiative, which aims to use the University’s vast expertise

across multiple specialist areas to assist local development.

Professor Christopher Findlay, Executive Dean of the

Faculty of the Professions, says the approach is a win-win

for all parties.

“We’re offering our substantial capability and engaging

with industry, councils and regional development groups to

tackle projects which have real value for the community,”

he says.

“At the same time it’s a tremendous opportunity and

experience for our students because they get to work on

real-life issues.”

The University has also developed projects in other parts

of South Australia, including the South-East and Port

Augusta.

“While some of our ideas are still in the embryonic

stage, the response locally has been very enthusiastic

– they appreciate the benefits which will flow from such

collaboration,” says Professor Findlay.

Among the initiatives is a partnership with Renmark-based

Almondco Australia, which is seeking to add additional

supply chain value for its existing growers while encouraging

more farmers to grow almonds.

International Global Food and Agricultural Business student

yumeng Chen has linked with Almondco for her Masters

research to help the process.

rEgIonal PartnErShIPS

It’s a comprehensive study to find out the needs of existing

and potential growers, and to provide crucial financial

information relating to overheads, timelines and expected

returns. The research involves liaising with key industry

stakeholders.

In a separate project at Almondco, engineering students

from the University have been invited to review and evaluate

the company’s world-class processing facilities to see if

further innovation and improvements can be implemented.

“Our students are thirsty for this type of practical experience

and the opportunity to use their skills in an area that can

add real value,” says Research Associate Craig Johns. “It

also looks good on their résumé.”

The Faculty of Professions is also liaising with Renmark

Paringa Council with a view to having overseas students

take part in council internships.

Business Development Manager Anna Cosentino says the

aim is to provide a real-life regional experience for students

through possible homestays and by becoming actively

involved in the community.

“Projects being considered include assisting the council with

new technology and records systems, designing platforms

for community engagement, and the development of new

procurement programs,” says Ms Cosentino.

“The council is very enthusiastic at the prospect of being

able to utilise the skills of our students and we’re hoping to

have something in place soon.”

Various other initiatives are still at the developmental stage,

including programs with Regional Development Australia

and the local business community.

“We’re offering our substantial capability and engaging with industry, councils and regional development groups to tackle projects which have real value for the community.”

PHOTO Photography Credit: Adam Bruzzone/SATC

18 ADELAIDEAN

ADELAIDEAN 19ADELAIDEAN 19

20 ADELAIDEAN

CoMMunIty-baSEd lEarnIng

Adelaide Unicare clinics owned and operated by the

University of Adelaide are attracting increasing numbers

of patients while providing critical real-life student learning

experiences and research opportunities.

The network of six clinics in Adelaide and regional South

Australia delivers quality primary healthcare to various

communities, with more than 150,000 patient attendances

over a 12-month period.

At the same time Unicare is giving medical, nursing and

allied health students access to a hands-on teaching

experience, enabling them to work with patients from all

types of backgrounds and with specialist needs.

It also fills an important third goal, providing postgraduate

students with unrivalled access to general practice for

important research.

CEO Michael Chalk says Adelaide Unicare is highly

innovative and continues to evolve as it succeeds across

many levels.

“We’re always looking at new ways to expand Unicare

services in conjunction with the University to meet the

needs of the various communities we serve – and that

includes students, researchers and the general public,”

he says.

“For example, late last year our Gawler Place Medical

Practice opened a satellite clinic in Light Square especially

to offer bulk-billed GP services to the local homeless and

marginalised community.

“Then in June this year we opened a new service, in a joint

initiative with the University, to provide specialist counselling

support for students who are referred by the University’s

Counselling and Disability Service.”

Adelaide Unicare is the inspiration of Timothy Murrell, the

visionary founding professor of the University’s community

medicine department, who spent two decades setting up

and running GP medical education facilities.

Today Adelaide Unicare engages 60 healthcare providers

at its six clinics. Two clinics are located in Adelaide’s CBD,

including the University Health Medical Practice on the

North Terrace campus, which is mainly used by staff and

students.

Three clinics have been opened in the northern suburbs,

including the flagship Unihealth Playford practice at Munno

Para West, which was built using funding under the Federal

Government’s GP Super Clinic program.

The sixth clinic is located at Minlaton on the yorke Peninsula.

“Having clinics in diverse locations provides our students

with a range of unique experiences, including work with

Indigenous patients and those with various special needs,

so it becomes a really important part of their study,” says

Mr Chalk.

“This year alone we have budgeted for nearly 1,700 student

placement days across our network, covering medical,

psychology, nursing and counselling students.”

Mr Chalk says future priorities include involving a broader

range of students in Unicare activities, and leveraging

off its practices to help the University expand its goal of

becoming a ‘health promoting’ university.

UNICARE SUCCEEDS ON mANy LEvELS

20 ADELAIDEAN

ADELAIDEAN 21

“Having clinics in diverse locations provides our students with a range of unique experiences, including work with Indigenous patients and those with various special needs, so it becomes a really important part of their study.”

PHOTO Dr Stephanie Taylor with student James McNeil and a patient.

ADELAIDEAN 21

22 ADELAIDEAN

EmPOWERINg LEARNINg ThE mOOC WAy

lEarnIng and tEaChIng

Adelaide has joined an elite network of the world’s leading

universities as it moves to create a new flexible learning

environment which embraces the latest in online delivery

and the small group discovery experience.

The University has started work on at least four Massive

Open Online Courses (MOOCs) as a member of edX, an

international consortium which is driving new directions

in education delivery using the latest technologies and

targeted content.

Professor Pascale Quester, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and

Vice-President (Academic), says MOOCs will be the

catalyst for teachers to rethink their course material to

enhance the student experience.

“We’re in the process of identifying topics for our first MOOC

courses which will be developed over the next 12 months,”

says Professor Quester. “A small team will be going to

Boston in September for technical training in relation to the

edX platform underpinning our MOOCs and then we’ll start

in earnest.”

MOOC development will involve teachers rethinking

course content and delivery, using media techniques such

as video segments and animation to meet the needs of a

broader audience.

“It really focuses the mind because with a MOOC there

is only a limited amount of time for teachers to get their

message across,” she says.

THE UNIVERSITy OF ADELAIDE HAS TAKEN THE NEXT STEP IN ITS JOURNEy TO DELIVER UNIQUE STUDENT LEARNING EXPERIENCES By BECOMING A MEMBER OF THE INTERNATIONAL EDX GROUP.

ADELAIDEAN 23

“It really focuses the mind because there is only a limited amount of time for teachers to get their message across.”

“This is all about learning outcomes not cramming in

content. We’re jumping into a future where lectures are no

longer the most important component of a course.”

Using some MOOC learning to enhance the University’s

on-campus teaching will allow students to acquaint

themselves with course content ahead of class, while

freeing up time for more face-to-face interaction with

teachers. This is a key part of the University’s Beacon of

Enlightenment strategic plan targeting the small group

discovery experience.

Professor Quester envisages each MOOC will last five to

seven weeks and will have multiple uses. In addition to

forming part of normal course material for degrees, the free

online content will also be accessible by anyone wanting to

further their education, including those in remote areas or

developing countries.

“It’s also a wonderful way of helping our alumni to remain

attached and involved with the University. That’s what

universities are all about – a community of learners

expanding the boundaries of knowledge.”

As a member of edX, the University of Adelaide is joining

many other leading universities and organisations, including

Harvard, MIT, the University of Tokyo and UC Berkeley.

PREPARING TOMORROW’S

LEADERS.

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